Superhydrophobicity for Antifouling Microfluidic Surfaces

The conversation discusses the potential benefits of creating a hydrophobic version of finasteride to reduce systemic side effects while maintaining scalp health. It compares this idea to fluridil, which is designed to be hydrophobic and has less systemic absorption.

The conversation is about using distilled water as a solvent for topical finasteride to reduce systemic absorption. The user is considering avoiding ethanol and propylene glycol to achieve this.

A user is making a topical finasteride solution with 0.01% finasteride, 50% ethanol, 15% glycerine, and 35% water, but it doesn't adhere well to the scalp. They seek advice on improving the mixture's consistency without taking oral pills.

OP is trying to dissolve finasteride powder for a topical solution but faces issues with it not dissolving properly in ethanol or water. Users suggest methods like using a magnetic stirrer, shaking the mixture, or filtering out fillers, with some noting that finasteride is soluble in alcohol.

Topical finasteride may have higher systemic absorption and lower efficacy when using a Propylene Glycol/Ethanol formulation compared to the hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH) formulation. The safety profile of topical finasteride relies heavily on the HPCH formulation, and using standard solutions might lead to different pharmacokinetics.

The conversation discusses using Rogain foam as a solvent for topical finasteride due to an allergy to propylene glycol. The foam's ingredients, including alcohol SD 40B, are considered suitable for dissolving finasteride for easier application without skin irritation.